Chapter 19: Refusing Divorce

From the look on his face, Xie Yunshu knew she had guessed correctly, but she no longer had the energy to be angry.

She simply tapped the divorce application and spoke calmly, “No matter what, let’s part on good terms. From now on, we won’t interfere in each other’s lives.”

Lu Zhixing seemed momentarily stunned by her words. For the first time, a flicker of panic and anger crossed his usually calm and composed face. He picked up the divorce application that Xie Yunshu had spent twenty minutes writing—then tore it to shreds.

With fury blazing in her eyes, Xie Yunshu heard him speak in a low voice, “Yunshu, I won’t divorce you. If it’s money you want, I’ll gather it slowly and give it to you. But I won’t agree to a divorce.”

Who’s the crazy one here?

Xie Yunshu suddenly stood up, the harsh scrape of her chair echoing in the room. She was never one to have a good temper. Like Cheng Yuxiang said, she was just an ordinary girl from a back alley, who’d lost her parents in her teens. If she had a soft personality too, wouldn’t everyone walk all over her?

It was only because she loved him that after marrying him, she had willingly hidden all her sharp edges and become the gentle, virtuous wife.

But now, she didn’t love him anymore!

“Lu Zhixing, don’t push me into slapping you! I want a divorce, and no one can stop me!” Xie Yunshu lifted her chin slightly, her dark, brilliant eyes filled with fury. Her delicate face was flushed red with anger.

Like a provoked leopard—beautiful and radiant.

Lu Zhixing looked at her as if he were seeing her for the first time. He always knew his wife was beautiful. Even though he had a cold and aloof personality, he still had a man’s weakness for beautiful women.

At their first blind date, he had been struck by her beauty. Back then, she had been shy and gentle, yet her eyes lacked the usual timidity of someone from a humble background—instead, they shone with admiration and affection for him.

So after being nagged about marriage for a long time, Lu Zhixing had nodded without much thought.

After they got married, she treated him very well. He had seen all kinds of her loveliness. Perhaps, over time, that loveliness had faded. But in this moment, he saw her anew.

She was more beautiful when she was angry than at any other time…

Xie Yunshu shot him an impatient glance, her tone growing colder, “I’ll go back to the bookstore and reprint the divorce application. If you insist on not divorcing me, then I absolutely won’t agree to Xiao Wei being registered in our household.”

No matter how powerful the Lu family was, without her signature, the household registration couldn’t go through. He could forget about it!

But Lu Zhixing misunderstood her. “So… it’s because of Xiao Wei’s issue that you want a divorce? Yunshu, I promise you, if Xinyue doesn’t get married within a year, I’ll find another way for Xiao Wei’s registration. He won’t interfere with us having a child.”

They had always taken precautions—partly because he was too busy, and partly because, as a doctor, he knew it wasn’t good for a woman to have a child too young. After all, Yunshu had just turned twenty when they got married.

Now that he thought about it, having their own child would be a blessing.

Xie Yunshu laughed in disbelief, “I’ll say it again—I want a divorce.”

But Lu Zhixing repeated stubbornly, “I won’t sign the papers. If you’re still angry, you can go back and stay with your mom for a few days, but you must come home for the New Year. Yunshu, no matter how upset you are, stop saying the word ‘divorce’ all the time.”

Xie Yunshu took a deep breath. It was already past 8 o’clock. She hadn’t told her mother she was coming over, and continuing this argument was pointless. If she didn’t go back soon, her mom would definitely worry.

“One thing—when will I get the money?” That was the main point. Everything else was nonsense!

Lu Zhixing was momentarily stunned, seemingly surprised she brought up money again. “I only have 1,800 yuan in my account right now. If you want it, you can take it all.”

He assumed she was just venting. Normally, she wasn’t someone who cared much about money. Maybe giving most of his salary to Zhou Xinyue had really upset her. Thinking of that, Lu Zhixing added, “Xinyue has already started working. Starting next month, I’ll transfer my salary to you.”

“Fine. When you’ve saved the remaining 1,200 yuan, I’ll return it with the divorce application.” Xie Yunshu didn’t hesitate. In this second life, she understood clearly—she could give up the man, but she must hold on to the money.

As for Lu Zhixing giving her his salary card—how he’d eat or live was none of her business. After all, he was a resident doctor. Meals at the hospital were cheap, and the benefits wouldn’t let him starve.

But Lu Zhixing smiled. He looked at her and curved his lips slightly. “Let’s discuss Xiao Wei’s issue later. I’ll try to find another solution. It’s good for you to stay at your mother’s for a while. When you feel better, come back.”

He thought: if she was willing to take his salary card, it meant she still wanted to live with him. Divorce was just a moment of anger. He had made mistakes too—he shouldn’t have left her alone for five days, letting her suffer so much. As for Xiao Wei, she was angry because if the boy was registered under his name, they couldn’t register their own child.

She still cared about him deep down…

Thinking this, Lu Zhixing’s voice softened with a hint of happiness: “Yunshu, I’ll take care of everything. Just rest easy at your mother’s.”

He knew there had been gossip in the hospital family compound lately. Yunshu had no job now and was alone at home—of course she’d overthink things. Better for her to return to her mother’s and clear her head…

Xie Yunshu gave him a mocking look. “I never planned on coming back.”

“Okay, then don’t come back for now.” Lu Zhixing chuckled helplessly. It was rare to see her so angry—and somehow, he found it a little refreshing.

Xie Yunshu rolled her eyes inwardly. She slipped the passbook and salary card into her coat pocket, then shouldered her two packed bundles. “Think what you like. Once you’ve saved up the rest, sign the divorce papers immediately!”

Lu Zhixing frowned. “I already said—stop mentioning that word.”

He would not get a divorce.

But Xie Yunshu was determined to get one.

For a moment, neither spoke. Xie Yunshu furrowed her brows and turned to leave without another word. But after just two steps, her shoulders suddenly felt lighter.

Lu Zhixing had picked up her bags and was following behind. “It’s too late. It’s not safe for a woman to walk alone. I’ll take you back.”

“I don’t need you to!” Xie Yunshu was growing irritated.

“Don’t be stubborn.” Lu Zhixing looked at her calmly, holding her bags and heading for his bicycle. He was tall and walked fast, forcing Xie Yunshu to follow, face cold.

Just as they walked out of the compound gates, Lu Xueting came running from down the street, out of breath. “Brother, hurry—Xiao Wei got scalded! There are big blisters all over his arms and legs… What should we do?!”

“What?” Lu Zhixing’s expression changed instantly. A child that young could easily get infected from burns.

Without even a word of explanation to Xie Yunshu, he dropped the bags and pedaled off toward the hospital…